Industrial policy is making a comeback in the United States. Sweeping legislation — including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act — present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance worker and community-centered investments and help lay the foundation for a more just, inclusive, and democratic economy. The ability of the federal government to perform after decades of underinvestment, particularly for workers and families of color, is about to be tested. Charitable foundations have an important role to play in ensuring that this opportunity is widely understood and equitably implemented.
EOF, Funders for a Just Economy, and the Ford Foundation hosted a funder meeting on December 7, 2023 in New York to explore philanthropic efforts taking place at the national, state, and local levels to support the effective and equitable implementation of these historic federal investments. Through sharing and facilitated conversation, participants had the opportunity to provide updates on their funding strategies and priorities, explore how their work is evolving in response to the current environment, and work collectively to identify opportunities for alignment and collaboration.